Inside the artists’ studio

Is life art? In this home, yes it is.
 

Inside the artists' studios : Lompoc Valley Arthosts first tour of work spaces

NORA K. WALLACE, NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

 

September 23, 2009 7:39 AM

 

There's no mistaking Mikki Alhart's work space in her Lompoc home. In addition to colorful painted caterpillars and a large canvas depicting an ostrich, there's an oversized artist's palette on the floor, spot marked with splotches of yellow, orange, purple and red paint.

Mrs. Alhart couldn't be happier about being a part of the tour.

 

"People are so interested in where you create," she said. "That's part of the wonder, what space you create in. We're all different."

Her own space is a small alcove, separated from her bedroom by a hanging curtain.

 

 

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           Mikki Alhart steps out of her home studio into a backyard where she's painted a colorful ocean mural.

           The face of her husband, Paul, is featured as a snorkeler at the upper right of the mural.

 

 

"That's what fun about a studio," she explained. "You get to break all the rules."

Her entire house is her canvas,the bedroom wall painted with faux brick and a castle scene; the bathroom of her husband Paul, painted in a tropical image with toucans; and her kitchen, with a birdhouse mural on the wall and painted white picket fence at the floorboards.

 

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Artist Mikki Alhart and her dog, Peanut, enjoy the colors and light of her home studio in Lompoc.

 

 

"I haven't found a niche yet," said the 62-year-old Mrs. Alhart, who moved to Lompoc about four years ago. "I'm an aspiring Grandma Moses. I always want to try something different."

She calls her pieces "Visual Meditations" and didn't actually start painting until she retired three years ago.

For 22 years, she worked as a drug and alcohol counselor. In the three years since leaving her job, she's done little more than "sleep and create, sleep and create."

She's churned out 80 pieces.

She has shown in places like Cypress Gallery in Lompoc and Town Center Gallery in Santa Maria.

"My art is like a free gift," she said with a boisterous laugh. "I've paid my dues. I have such a passion for it ... This isn't work. This is so fun."

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Ynez Valley News

                                                                                                      

March Featured Artist

Mikki Alhart

“Visual Meditations”

 

Open Reception, Saturday, March 1st 2008 From 1-3 p.m.

Public is Welcome, Hors d’oeuvre & Beverages Served

 

Mikki Alhart is a published author, public speaker and has been a drug and alcohol counselor for the last twenty five years. Mikki and her husband, Paul, founded The New Hope Center of Lompoc in 2005. I privately think of myself as the next aspiring “Grandma Moses”, because I have waited for over twenty five years to seriously pursue my art. My careers outside the art world diverted my attention for many years. I have been driven by a long awaited passion to express in a multitude of mediums the creative spirit of my soul. Searching for and finding that beauty is so awesome, it is beyond description.

My paintings reflect the romance and beauty of nature which inspires the soul. I am endlessly searching to show the tie between my subjects and my heart. The poetry of how I see the work is hopefully what allows my viewers to connect personally with my paintings.

 

As a relatively new artist I have not found my perfect style or medium. I have been exploring with acrylic, oil, and pastels. My subjects have vacillated from fantasy, landscapes, floral, animals, birds and seascapes. This oil painting was inspired by a visit to Emerald Cove in Tahoe. I didn’t have a camera so I visualized it from memory. It is a magical place of beauty and color that I wanted to capture.

 

 

 

 This oil painting has a funny story connected to it. I was commissioned to paint this picture by a family member who’s fiancée is a professional photographer in Florida. She sent me the picture of the Red Shouldered Hawk and wanted me to paint it.  When they received the painting they laughed at the pine trees in the background, as this variety of Red Shoulder Hawks apparently only live in the Florida everglades. When they laughingly told me the story, “I told them that I was and artist and artists can put their subjects anywhere. I don’t know if that is true or not since I just made it up. Moral of the story is next time I will do more research.

 

 

 

My goal is to illuminate the beauty of ordinary scenes. That is how my artwork received its title of “Visual Meditations.” I passionately create from a very different vantage point than exact realism in that it is the emotion and song of art that means the most to me. My paintings reflect the romance and beauty of nature which inspires my soul. I am endlessly searching to show the tie between my subjects and my heart.